The following weeks I take a more leisurely approach to advancing up the stream, as I am now busy improving my skills and making flint tools. I also start gutting the big rats. Best to learn how to dissect, dismantle and disassemble from such a disposable animal. I try cooking the meat. It seems to work okay, but I could definitely improve my cooking skills. As I am trying all these things, new skills are appearing in my menu. With a bit of effort they go up to level 2. Level three requires more of a challenge. Considering how my alert skill level went up quickly when exposed to new dangers, new challenges seems to help raise the levels of my skills.

Instead of running from forest rats, I am now regularly killing them. Using sinew from the rat carcasses I also make traps for the smaller animals. I remember seeing how to make them and how to use them from my previous life, but only in theory. Theory with practice quickly bears fruit. These smaller less savage animals certainly seem a lot more appetizing than rat steak.

While knapping at the flint I found, I quickly managed to create a series of knives. Each an improvement on the other. My crafting and tool making skills are increasing. The knives proved very handy with the disassembly of the dead rats, but it also allowed me to try making other tools. I had a go at making leather from the skin, but not much of a success. I think I may have rushed the brain tanning process. However, using some of my less successful pieces I made a somewhat functioning sling.

Never having used a sling, I realize how hard it is to use, but as this is my first attempt at making a ranged weapon I persevere. I am a bit put off with how difficult I am finding the sling, so I try making a bow. This also proves difficult, but as a crafting challenge I find it more enjoyable. My initial success is no more than a toy, but it is merely a stepping stone. One day I will be making longbows, composite bows and even compound bows. I did have a fascination with archery in my past life.

To my flint knives I add flint axes and flint spears. My stone carving skill has already reached level 5, but I am running out of ideas on what to make out of flint. I already got a large stock of flint arrowheads, though I have yet to make a useful bow. I focus on the bow making. I try to look for different materials strong and sturdy. I try combining the different materials using bindings and even my own attempts at making glue using anything from tree sap to forest rat brains.

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Armed with flint weapons I start to hunt more actively. Plenty of aggressive omnivores attack me, but I would very much like to try catching a plant eater. So far they have all been very shy, but I have occasionally caught a glimpse of them as they run away. Animals who can't fight run. I stop my hunt after killing two rats and a dog like creature. I never even came close to a plant eater. Still I am pleased as I have gained a hunter skill.

One day while testing out my latest attempt at a composite bow, the most practical one so far, the stream comes to an end. It appears the stream is just one of many trickles from a large lake. The lake is surrounded by forests and teaming with life. Though surprisingly few medium sized carnivores. Standing at the edge of the lake I can see lots of fish in the water. The water is calm and transparent. There is a small waterfall further up. The ground is soft and squishy. I dig my hands into it, and pull out handfuls of clay. This would be good materials for making a home.

I start fishing in the shallow water with my spear. I expect it to be difficult, but soon catch a couple of fish. Maybe my level 3 spear skill aided by my level 1 accurate trust skill is helping me. Life is definitely more easy with skills. With one of the fish skewered on a stick I start roasting it whole on a fire. Just as I am enjoying the smell and anticipating my first fish in ages, my alert skill goes off as strongly as it did at the monster trail.

I scramble up a tree seeing a large figure in the corner of my eye bursting out of the bushes. Far up in the tree I see a familiar looking bear figure down below. Analyze tells me it is a horned beast bear. It looks as big as a polar bear, probably bigger. It is looking straight at me. I hear a ping inside my head, and I am pretty sure my fear resistance went up. No carnivore this big has ever targeted me directly. It stands on two feet leaning up against the tree I am sat in. Surely it can't climb? It might knock down the tree considering its size.

I turns towards my fire and knocks the fish off the fire. It starts eating it. A few minutes later it has finished and move on. So much for my peaceful idyllic home. It was already his home. How can a level 2 newbie hunter with stone weapons stand a chance against that thing.